Finally saw the new movie. I feel like I’ve been pretty forgiving of the sequel trilogy, but I didn’t enjoy this one. There were some enjoyable parts, but those were mostly just copy/pasted from a previous work. The movie asks you to just accept too many things at face value, even if they are contradictions to the story, the themes, and the rules that were established in the previous eight movies.

Finally saw the new movie. I feel like I’ve been pretty forgiving of the sequel trilogy, but I didn’t enjoy this one. There were some enjoyable parts, but those were mostly just copy/pasted from a previous work. The movie asks you to just accept too many things at face value, even if they are contradictions to the story, the themes, and the rules that were established in the previous eight movies.

Click to expand...

The problem with Disney is they want to use things like Force Resurrection, yellow Sentinel Light Sabers, Dark Sabers, Dark Troopers, Grand Admiral Thrawn and anything else they see fit but they don't want to acknowledge the EU. They basically cherry pick things to try and make there terrible Disney Trilogy more palpable.

The EU had many of these things already established with much better story telling while still managing to honor older characters.

I feel like Finn got royally screwed in this trilogy as well. He had the most interesting story arc in the Force Awakens than after that they threw it all away.

It felt like the Star Wars film version of painting by numbers with a heavy dose of Disney ‘magic’ thrown in for good measure.

At the end of it, I had the same feeling I had at the end of GoT: it was all wrapped up too quickly, with each narrative tied up and closed with a sweet smelling bow and all the while the writing was amongst the weakest of the series.

Was there good moments: yes. Were there visually impressive scenes: yes. Was it watchable: yes, again.

Did it feel as magical and enthralling as the first three did in the late 70s and 80s:

No but then I’m not 7, 9 and 12 anymore and those rose tinted glasses can’t be put back on.

Star Wars did deserve a better send off but that was never going to happen under Disney imho and, in fairness, Lucas did a pretty damn good job of messing up the middle three anyway!

So, as it stands, I can live with it because there is no point in wishing it was different because that isn’t going to change it

So, as it stands, I can live with it because there is no point in wishing it was different because that isn’t going to change it

Click to expand...

Actually there is a way to change things. If ppl were to actually put there money where there mouth is and stop going to half assed made Star Wars movies than things will change. That's the only way Disney will listen is through money. But when you go even after saying how terrible it is than your really not sticking it to anyone but yourself.

But when you go even after saying how terrible it is than your really not sticking it to anyone but yourself.

Click to expand...

The issue I have with this post is that I didn't say "how terrible it is", nor did I go in with any expectations of it being either terrible or a work of art. I paid £6.50 to see it and it was £6.50 worth of film. Being honest, I cannot recall the last time I left a film and thought: that was amazing! I find most large studio films average or below average and Episode 9 was exactly that.

There were a myriad of things you could use to pick the latest SW film apart but I am also mindful that you need to remember that we're talking about a soap opera, in space, with aliens... suspension of disbelief is already the order of the day. I don't go to a fast food restaurant and expect a Michelin star meal and I don't go and see a Star Wars film, which have never been anything other than entertaining light science fiction, expecting an amazing film.

In my opinion, some of the issues stem from people who were too young (many not even born) to watch the first three in the theatres. They seem to have put these films up on a pedestal, as though they are luminary works of fine art. They were pulp fiction, disposable fun, then and they are that now. The moment you have wholly unrealistic expectations of the medium you are about to consume is the instant you are bound to be disappointed.

I went into E9 expecting 'mind candy', not the next Citizen Kane, and I got pretty much what I expected.

Average expectations, average film (and certainly not the worst Star Wars).

Its become this gigantic, sprawling phenomenon that will never die. I do wonder if that is a good thing, or is it predictable and boring?
Everything becomes stale or rotten eventually, no matter how much care you take or how many preservatives you add to the mix.

Click to expand...

It does feel like the law of diminishing returns.

As you suggested, I think it would have been better remember had the original three been left to stand alone. However, as I've said previously, the rose tinted glasses that make me view the first three so favourably, are the same glasses that mean others hold (judge) the last three to such a high standard.

Perhaps it is no surprise that those in my extended family who grew up with the middle three (similar ages to me seeing the first three) look favourably on the middle three, where as I see them as my least favourite (Jar Jar, 'Ani' and Padme being the low point in all nine for me). So much of both the passion and the animosity seems, to me, to spring from which films you grew up with and when you originally entered the franchise. Like supporters of teams in sport, we seem to favour our chosen one and denigrate the competition.

There were a myriad of things you could use to pick the latest SW film apart but I am also mindful that you need to remember that we're talking about a soap opera, in space, with aliens... suspension of disbelief is already the order of the day. I don't go to a fast food restaurant and expect a Michelin star meal and I don't go and see a Star Wars film, which have never been anything other than entertaining light science fiction, expecting an amazing film.

Click to expand...

Well stated. So many SW fans act as if there was a point in time where SW wasn't cheesy pulp sci fi. And not only that, but that it was a cinematic masterpiece the likes of which had never been seen before, and will never be seen again. Episodes 4-9 were fun movies. Not great movies. Not high cinema. Fun. If someone couldn't find the fun in them, that says a lot more about themselves than it does about the movies. And I don't say that to be condescending because there are plenty of "fun" movies that I shit on and don't find fun (pretty much any non-SW Disney movie).

Somehow I don't think Disney feels that way!
But yes, as far as fandom goes the quality of the world has been diluted. It's like The Simpson's vs Futurama. The Simpson's was my first love, but because of its longevity vs Futurama's compactness, Futurama is a much stronger show.

There were a myriad of things you could use to pick the latest SW film apart but I am also mindful that you need to remember that we're talking about a soap opera, in space, with aliens... suspension of disbelief is already the order of the day. I don't go to a fast food restaurant and expect a Michelin star meal and I don't go and see a Star Wars film, which have never been anything other than entertaining light science fiction, expecting an amazing film.

Click to expand...

Well stated. So many SW fans act as if there was a point in time where SW wasn't cheesy pulp sci fi. And not only that, but that it was a cinematic masterpiece the likes of which had never been seen before, and will never be seen again. Episodes 4-9 were fun movies. Not great movies. Not high cinema. Fun. If someone couldn't find the fun in them, that says a lot more about themselves than it does about the movies. And I don't say that to be condescending because there are plenty of "fun" movies that I shit on and don't find fun (pretty much any non-SW Disney movie).

Click to expand...

Your joking right? Episode 4-6 WERE cinematic masterpieces that set the bar for many science fiction movies afterwards. Many of which have tried but couldn't copy the success of Star Wars. Do not put episodes 7-9 with them because they are only a retreading of the first three movies.

Somehow I don't think Disney feels that way!
But yes, as far as fandom goes the quality of the world has been diluted.

Click to expand...

You're correct, I meant artistically/creatively, rather than financially; however, in saying that, I would imagine Disney's have realised that milking that same bantha over and over would have the same issues financially.

What will be interesting is to see is where Disney decide to take the 'universe'; obviously there is a lot of source material to plunder but unlike the main Star Wars arc, they could take a fresh look at it and make their own mark (wishful thinking!). Personally, I think any new film will be viewed a lot more harshly because it will benefit less from the rose-tinted specs mentioned above. Rather than rehashing the same plots and using the same cast, directors and producers to make it happen, it would be great to see something fresh, new and exciting arrive on the screens. Whilst not perfect, I personally found the first Guardians of the Galaxy set a good balance between action, humour and story - it can be done. For me, that is what the original Star Wars did but, as I said above, you really can't tell the same joke nine times in a row, in the same manner, and expect it still to be fresh and interesting.

Your joking right? Episode 4-6 WERE cinematic masterpieces that set the bar for many science fiction movies afterwards. Many of which have tried but couldn't copy the success of Star Wars. Do not put episodes 7-9 with them because they are only a retreading of the first three movies.

I suppose it depends on your opinion of what's a 'cinematic masterpiece'. I loved the original trilogy and saw them all in the cinema multiple times, read the comics and bought the toys. I wanted Carrie Fisher so bad it hurt, even before i hit puberty. But, cinematic masterpieces? I'm not sure about that. They were certainly game changers, that's for sure.

Your joking right? Episode 4-6 WERE cinematic masterpieces that set the bar for many science fiction movies afterwards. Many of which have tried but couldn't copy the success of Star Wars. Do not put episodes 7-9 with them because they are only a retreading of the first three movies.

Click to expand...

The Ewoks were present in a "cinematic masterpiece"?

Click to expand...

Yes and they were fine. They certainly were not as annoying as the very ironically Disney animated Jar Jar Binks. But even than I would say the prequels felt more Star Wars than the Disney Trilogy does.

I suppose it depends on your opinion of what's a 'cinematic masterpiece'. I loved the original trilogy and saw them all in the cinema multiple times, read the comics and bought the toys. I wanted Carrie Fisher so bad it hurt, even before i hit puberty. But, cinematic masterpieces? I'm not sure about that. They were certainly game changers, that's for sure.

Your joking right? Episode 4-6 WERE cinematic masterpieces that set the bar for many science fiction movies afterwards. Many of which have tried but couldn't copy the success of Star Wars. Do not put episodes 7-9 with them because they are only a retreading of the first three movies.

Click to expand...

The Ewoks were present in a "cinematic masterpiece"?

Click to expand...

Yes and they were fine. They certainly were not as annoying as the very ironically Disney animated Jar Jar Binks. But even than I would say the prequels felt more Star Wars than the Disney Trilogy does.

Click to expand...

If you'd read my posts, I think you'd be able to work out that I wasn't speaking poorly of the first three (or 4,5,6 as the Millennials are so quite to correct GenX on); however, Lucas himself was well aware of what he was making and his goal was neither cinematic masterpiece nor a highbrow film. His inspirations were obvious and pulp fiction in nature.